If you’re 60 and facing retirement without savings, you’re not alone—and it’s not too late to take control of your financial future. Several insightful books offer guidance, practical strategies, and inspiration for navigating this stage of life with confidence. Here’s a curated list to help you get started:
📘 1. The 60-Something Crisis: How to Live an Extraordinary Life in Retirement by Barbara Pagano
This insightful and empowering book reframes what it means to retire without a financial safety net. Drawing from conversations with more than 200 individuals, Barbara Pagano introduces a fresh, human-centered approach to navigating your 60s and beyond—not with fear, but with clarity and confidence.
Instead of focusing on money, Pagano challenges readers to rethink retirement as an opportunity for renewal—where meaning, connection, and personal reinvention matter just as much as a portfolio.
The 60-Something Crisis
Barbara Pagano offers a fresh, life-affirming approach to retirement even if you’re starting from scratch.
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📘 2. How to Retire with Enough Money: And How to Know What Enough Is by Teresa Ghilarducci
Economist Teresa Ghilarducci, a respected labor and retirement policy scholar, highlights the growing challenge of retiring without enough savings. In Rescuing Retirement, she calls for the implementation of Guaranteed Retirement Accounts—a government-administered plan designed to augment Social Security.
Through her research and policy work, Ghilarducci outlines clear, practical steps aimed at helping individuals build retirement security, even if they begin later in life.
📘 3. The Smartest Retirement Book You’ll Ever Read by Daniel R. Solin
Solin offers straightforward advice on retirement planning, emphasizing low-cost investing and avoiding common pitfalls. His approach is particularly beneficial for those looking to make the most of their resources without complex financial strategies.
📘 4. The 5 Years Before You Retire: Retirement Planning When You Need It the Most by Emily Guy Birken
This book is tailored for individuals approaching retirement age without adequate savings. Birken provides a step-by-step plan to maximize savings, reduce expenses, and make informed decisions about healthcare and Social Security. (Nurture Care)
📘 5. When I’m Sixty-Four: The Plot Against Pensions and the Plan to Save Them by Teresa Ghilarducci
In this critical analysis, Ghilarducci examines the decline of traditional pensions and proposes solutions to ensure retirement security for all. The book is a call to action for systemic change and personal preparedness.
📘 6. The Simple Path to Wealth: Your Road Map to Financial Independence and a Rich, Free Life by J.L. Collins
Originally written as a series of letters to his daughter, Collins’ book demystifies investing and offers a clear path to financial independence, making it accessible for readers at any stage of life.
📘 7. Midlife: A Philosophical Guide by Kieran Setiya
While not solely focused on finances, Setiya’s book addresses the existential aspects of midlife, offering philosophical insights into finding purpose and contentment during this transitional period.
📘 8. Sun City by Tove Jansson
This novel explores the lives of elderly residents in a retirement community, delving into themes of aging, freedom, and self-discovery. It’s a poignant reminder that personal growth doesn’t cease with age.
📘 9. The Second Fifty: Critical Questions for Midlife and Beyond by Debra Whitman
Whitman tackles essential questions about retirement, emphasizing the impact of factors like location and healthcare access. She advocates for proactive planning and policy reforms to support aging populations. (MarketWatch)
📘 10. The Age of Dignity: Preparing for the Elder Boom in a Changing America
In this timely book, activist Ai-jen Poo—director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance—lays out the demographic reality that over 20% of Americans will be over 65 by 2030 and presents a powerful call to build a more caring nation.
She weaves together personal stories of family caregivers and home-care workers with concrete policy solutions for shoring up our fraying safety net, while highlighting how expanding care jobs can uplift women, immigrants, and low-wage workers
Additional Resources:
- Ramsey Solutions’ Article: For practical steps on building wealth quickly at 60, Ramsey Solutions offers guidance on budgeting, investing, and maximizing retirement contributions. (Ramsey Solutions)
- Boldin’s Retirement Book List: A comprehensive list of over 100 books covering retirement planning, healthy aging, and personal finance. (Boldin)
Next Steps:
- Assess Your Financial Situation: Understand your current assets, debts, and income sources.
- Create a Budget: Identify areas to reduce expenses and allocate funds toward savings.
- Maximize Income: Consider part-time work or freelance opportunities to supplement income.
- Consult a Financial Advisor: Seek professional advice to develop a personalized retirement plan.
- Stay Informed: Continue reading and educating yourself on retirement strategies and financial planning.
Remember, it’s never too late to take charge of your financial future. These resources can provide the knowledge and motivation to help you navigate retirement with confidence and dignity.
Bonus:
The Longevity Economy: Unlocking the World’s Fastest-Growing, Most Misunderstood Market
Economist Joseph F. Coughlin reframes aging as a vast opportunity—an $8 trillion market in the U.S.—rather than a burden.
Drawing on MIT AgeLab research, he debunks myths about “old age,” shows how businesses and policymakers can better serve a diverse cohort of active, ambitious older adults, and highlights the social and economic impact of reframing longevity
